Copper is soft, gummy and highly conductive — machinable but prone to built-up edge and stringy chips. Sharp, polished tools, positive rake, good coolant and controlled speeds keep the edge clean. It's common in electrical components and, in graphite/copper form, EDM electrodes.
It cuts on general mills and lathes; the challenge is finish and chip control, not power. Aluminum and brass share similar strategies.
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